Bundle raft with quick detachable fittings



Nov. 29, 1960 w. A. MEIGHAN' 2,951,671

BUNDLE RAFT WITH QUICK DETACHABLE FITTINGS Original Filed Jan. 31, 19555 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, 1960 BUNDLE RAFT WITH QUICK DETACHABLEFITTINGS Original Filed Jan. 31, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1960 w.A. MEIGHAN 2,961,671

BUNDLE RAF T WITH QUICK DETACHABLE FITTINGS Original Filed Jan. 31, 19553 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I 40 Im l n 39 I I I 1 I I I I l I m X: l: 5 i 3233 k E f I Ill IIIII I 29 3/ l 7 2,951,671 Patented Nov. 29., 19.60

BUNDLE RAFT WITH QUICK DETACHABLE FITTINGS William A. Meighan, Portland,Oreg. ($15 SW. 3rd Ave., Beaver-ton, Oreg.)

Original application Jan. 31, 1955, Ser. No. 485,249, new Patent ,No.2,917,799, dated Dec. 22, 1959. Divided and this application Sept. 17,1957, Ser. No. 684,450

6 C im 97-1 This invention relates to a novel log raft which is made upwithout boom sticks from bundles of logs and to novel quick detachablefittings ofexemplary use to join the individual bundles of logs in sucha raft.

This application is a divisional application filed fol lowing order forrestriction in application for applicants copending application SerialNo. 485,249, filed January 31, 1955, now United States Patent No.2,917,799.

One object of my invention is to provide a bundle raft which is capableof open water movement although made up with no boom sticks and which issecured together with quick detachable fittings arranged above oradjacent the water line for easy access during assembly and disassemblyof the raft.

A further object of my invention is to provide a structurally superiormetal fitting selectively manipulative to grip or to release pluralsections of wire rope, the gripping action of the fitting being effectedwith a latch or lock type action which prevents inadvertent release ofthe wire rope. In addition, with this fitting, the latching manipulationis made with keepers which are independent of the gripping jaws so thestress or strain generated in heavy, massive sections of wire rope willnot release the JHWS.

The states of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California in the UnitedStates and the province of British Columbia in Canada form a region in'which logging and timber operations, and the production of lumber aremajor industries. The specific facet of this regional economic lifeblood with which the instant invention is concerned includes thetransportation in the ocean or other open waterway of large numbers oflogs. Conventionally, this water transportation is from either a loggingor an assembly area to a mill and towing is accomplished by ocean goingtugs. The water site where log rafts are made up is referred to in thetrade as a booming ground, and common open water log raft types includethe Davis and the Gibson rafts. At the booming ground, the individuallogs or bundles are handled with high lines, cranes or other complexequipment, the raft itself being assembled on the tide fiat, in acradle, or in water. Massive and expensive gear such as straps, wireropes, fittings and chains conventionally tie the logs or bundlestogether to form a huge rigid raft capable of weathering open watertransportation.

Experts in the open water log towing art heretofore have considered thatrigidity was synonymous with strength and the only a massive rigid raftwould hold together and ride out the rough weather which must beanticipated in any ocean voyage. This type of a structure, however,exemplified by the Davis and Gibson rafts, requires complex andexpensive log handling equipment at the booming ground and is undulyexpensive and time-consuming both in assembly and in disassembly. Forthese reasons, the assembly of small or medium sized rafts iseconomically unsound and over the years the practical art has shown thatonly the very large logging one object of my invention to operators andthe well-financed mills can afford to assemble and use ocean going lografts. This has come to mean that the small operator or the so-calledgypo who is logging in an area where ocean transportation is preferablehas been unable effectively to market his logs. He either must form acombination with several other small operators or must sell directly tothe big operators at the booming ground. My invention has been developed.to .help these small operators compete with their larger rivals.

In view of the above requirements, practicalities and problems in theopen water transportation of logs, it is provide an ocean going log raftwhich can be assembled, without the use of complex or expensiveequipment, in any desired size, in a minimum time, and in direct serviceof the requirements of the small logging operator. At the same time, itis a correlative inventive object to provide a log raft possessed ofsufficient strength without rigidity to gain the approval of log towingexperts and thus to make the raft insurable as required by soundbusiness practice.

In brief summary, my novel ocean going log raft is formed from aplurality of log bundles, each bundle being made up of plural individuallogs secured together in abutting, parallel and side by sidearrangement. By employing quick detachable fittings such as the chokerhooks disclosed in either of my prior United States Patents 2,605,130 or2,675,262, an individual bundle can be assembled with a minimum ofeffort either in the woods or at the booming ground. For example, wherethe logs are transported by truck, they are bundled on the truck as aload and thus are ready to assemble into a raft when they arrive at thebooming ground.

In assembling a raft, the bundles are arranged side by side in rows withas many as ten bundles forming a row. The rows then are lined up side byside with the bundles of one row end to end with the bundles of adjacentrows and with as many as ten or twelve rows making up a raft. Theseassembly operations are practiced either on the tide flat or in thewater. A wire rope known as a swifter secures the bundles laterally ineach row and a longitudinal tow line interconnects the rows of bundlesfrom the tail end to the head end of the raft so that a completed raftis formed in which each bundle is tied by wire rope to its neighbor. Tosecure the bundles in a given row, either separate lengths or a singlecontinuous length of swifter is in turn wrapped about each bundle andsecured with a quick detachable fitting. The longitudinal tow line whichruns fore and aft is secured to a bundle of each row adjacent the waterline with other quick detachable fittings. Several tow lines may beused. In actuality, however, fewer tow lines are required than thenumber of bundles in a row since the swifters tie the bundles laterally.The provision of this log raft structure is one object of my invention.

One of the most important economic factors in the construction and useof any log raft is the cost. Labor costs are reflected in the manning ofthe log handling equipment and the time required to assemble anddisassemble a raft, and material costs are born of such items as theboom logs, fittings, wire rope, chains and the like used to tie thestructure together. My log raft cuts these twin cost factors to aminimum heretofore unattained in the log towing industry. Thus, byemploying quick detachable fittings which are located adjacent or abovethe water line of the raft for easy access, both assembly anddisassembly can be effected in a minimum amount of time. Furthermore, byusing no boom sticks or chains and by employing fittings which can beused over and over again, the cost per raft for materials sub stantiallyis reduced. In sum total, this allows the small timber operator tocompete with his larger rivals in the ocean hauling of logs.

It thus is a further object of my invention to provide a novel wire ropefitting which is inexpensive, strong and easy to use and is manipulativebetween grip and release positions selectively to grip and to hold or torelease plural sections of wire rope used, exemplarily, in a log raft.

In service of the last-named objective, my novel fitting includes anelongate clamp mounted in stacked relationship with coinciding ends uponan elongate body. These two members jointly carry rope gripping jawsselectively to grip or to release plural sections of wire rope asdictated by movable keeper members. A first one of these keepersfunctions selectively to latch the two members against movement from thegrip position or to release these in definition of a pivot axis. Insimilar manner, it is the function of a second keeper selectively tolatch the members against movement from the grip position or to releasethe same for pivotal manipulation to the release position. These keepersare independent and both are elongate tapered members movable throughmated apertures to effect the latch function with a wedge action. Inthis manner, a workman securing two sections of wire rope together withone of my novel fittings need only catch the sections of wire ropebetween the gripping jaws, pivot the clamp upon the body, and drive thekeepers home with hammer blows. Thereinafter, the fitting will retainthe wire rope securely locked or latched in place until, at the point offinal use of the logs, an oppositely directed hammer blow is effected torelease the keepers and jaws thereby disassembling the raft.

The advantages of a fitting which is quick detachable by virtue ofkeepers manipulative between grip and release positions with ahammer-like blow immediately is apparent. The workman assembling ordisassembling a log raft utilizing these fittings is a high pay, hourlyemployee. He may be standing upon a floating bundle of logs, or in asmall boat in deep water, or may be working on the tide flats betweentides. Time is of the essence and the footing of the logger or workmanmay be precarious, yet the bundle must be secure. Additionally, theweather often may be cold and the water rough, further amplifying theproblems encountered in manipulating the heavy metal fittings andsections of wire rope. With my novel fittings, the raft can be assembledand the wire ropes secured against displacement or slippage in a minmumof time under even the most trying of conditions. The provision of afitting having these novel advantages is one object of my invention.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent during consideration of the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a floating log raft with the bundles atrest, the figure being shortened since the construction of the entireraft is merely repetitious of the portion illustrated;

Figs. 2-6 inclusive, are related views of a quick detachable fittingadapted to secure two parallel scetions of wire rope intermediate thejaws thereof, the direction arrows in Fig. 2 indicating a pivotalrelease or opening movement of the fitting; and

Figs. 7-9 inclusive are related views of a similar quick detachablefitting for securing two sections of crossed wire rope together, thepivotal opening movement being similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2.

In assembling the log raft a portion of which is shown in Fig, l, aplurality of parallel and cross type fittings are employed. The parallelfittings P are shown in detail in Figs. 2-6 and the cross fittings X areshown in detail in Figs. 7-9. Accordingly, I first will describe theconstruction and arrangement of the individual fittings P and X and thenwill discuss the construction of the log raft jointly with a discussionof an exemplary use for the fittings in such a raft.

Parallel fitting In the parallel fitting of Figs. 2-6, an elongate bodymember 10 carries a pair of spaced parallel cars 11 and 12 extending outfrom one end thereof and a similar pair of spaced parallel ears 13 and14 extending out from the opposite end thereof. Each of these ears isprovided with a lateral aperture 15 and the pair of apertures openingthrough the ears 11 and 12 and the pair opening through the ears 13 and14 are in lateral alignment. In size, the apertures 15 vary (see Fig. 4)so as to mate with a tapered keeper as hereinafter will become apparent.

In cooperation with the body member 10, an elongate clamping member 16is arranged in stacked relationship so the ends thereof substantiallycoincide with the ends of the body member. A loop means is carried ateach end of the clamping member, this term being generic to an eye 17and a hook 18, either of which species may be utilized as desired. Sincethe clamping member 16 and body member 10 are substantailly the samelength, the open portion of the hook 18 is in lateral alignment with theapertures 15 in the ears 11 and 12, whereas the eye 17 is in lateralalignment with the apertures 15 in the ears 13 and 14. In this manner,provision is made to receive the elongate keepers previously mentionedand now to be described.

A first keeper member 19 is carried by the apertures 15 within and spansthe distance between the ears 13 and 14. In so doing, this keeper passesthrough the eye 17. A second keeper 20 is carried by the apertures 15within and spans the ears 11 and 12. This keeper passes over the openportion of the hook 18. Both keepers are tapered in thickness (see Fig.4) and each carries a pin type guard 21 adjacent the small terminal endthereof. In addition, the keeper 19 is stepped, as at 22, so as todefine a small cylindrical cross section the length of the small end ofthe keeper. Enlarged head ends are formed on the keepers to receive ahammer blow without damage and to provide a pry point should such benecessary.

In detail, it will be noted that the pin guard 21 on the keeper 20projects radially a distance correlated to the clearance of the aperture15 in the ear 11 (see Fig. 3). Thus, this keeper can be moved laterallyfrom the position of Fig. 3 to a position in which the pin 21 restsintermediate the car 12 and the hook 18. As the keeper 20 reaches thislatter position, the pin 21 comes into contact with the ear 12 as theaperture therein is of insufficient size to pass the pin. The clampingmember 16 then is free to open since the book 18 is unguarded insofar asthe latch function of the keeper 20 is concerned. In a somewhatdifferent manner, the pin 21 on the keeper 19 is proportioned andarranged so as to limit the lateral retraction movement of the keeper 19to the position shown in Fig. 5. As therein illustrated, the steppedportion 22 spans the apertures 15 in the cars 13 and 14 and the eye 17in the clamp to define a pivot axis for manipulation of the clampingmember 16 to the open or release position. Conversely, Fig. 4illustrates the closed or latched position wherein both keepers arewedged tight into the mated sloping apertures 15 and the sections ofwire rope 24 are held in place. Movement of the keepers and the clampingmember intermediate the grip and the release positions will be furtherexplained with reference to the function of both the parallel fitting Pand the cross fitting X. Suffice to say at this point, the body member10 and the clamping member 16 are provided intermediate their ends withmated rope gripping jaws '23 between which the wire ropes 24 areclamped.

Cross fitting In Figs. 7-9 inclusive, the details of the cross fitting Xare revealed. This fitting is similar to the parallel fitting except forthe jaw and includes an elongate body member 26 and an elongate clampingmember 27 of substantially the same length. These two members aremounted in stacked relationship with coinciding ends as best shown inFigs. 7 and 9. A pair of spaced parallel ears extend out from each endof the body member 26, these ears bearing the reference numerals 28-31inclusive. The ears 28 and 29 are parallel one another in lateralalignment and the ears 30 and 31 are parallel one another at theopposite end in like alignment. The clamping member 27 carries a singleear 32 at one end and a single car 33 at the opposite end. The ear 32lies intermediate the ears 28 and 29 whereas the ear 33 liesintermediate the ears 30 and 31. In addition, both the body member 26and the clamping member 27 carry the mated halves of a crossed grippingjaw structure 34. In contrast with the parallel gripping jaws 23 ofFigs. 2-6, the cross gripping jaws 34 are arranged to carry two sectionsof heavy wire rope 24 and 25 which are arranged either normal or at anoblique angle one to the other.

Each of the ears 28-33 inclusive is pierced by a sloping or taperedaperture or eye mated to a tapered keeper as now will be described. Tothis end, the ear 28 carries an aperture 35', the ear 29 an aperture 36,the ear 3% an aperture 37, the ear 31 an aperture 38, the ear 32 an eye39, and the ear 33 an aperture 40. As is most apparent in Fig. 9, theapertures 35 and as are in alignment with and are mated to the size ofthe eye 39. In contrast therewith, the aperture 37 is in alignment withthe aperture 38 and the eye 40 but the latter two elements are of alarger size and a different configuration in order to pass a pin guard.In explanation, a first tapered keeper member 4i spans and is carried bythe apertures 35 and 36 and the eye 39. This keeper is stepped, as at42, so as to define a tapered construction leading to a long cylindricalcross section adjacent the end of the keeper. It is the function of thecylindrical cross section to define a pivot axis about which theclamping member 27 can swing with respect to the body member 26. For theears 30, 3'1, and 33, a second tapered keeper member 43 is provided.This keeper is tapered throughout the length thereof in contrast withthe stepped construction of the keeper 4!. In addition, both keeperscarry lateral. pin guards 44 for a purpose now to be described.

Both keepers 41 and 43 are movable laterally of the body and clampingmembers in definition of:a.'pivotal quick release mechanism whereby thefitting is made pivotally manipulative between grip and releasepositions. Thus, the keeper 41 is movable laterally until the pin guard44 comes into abutment with the ear 28. In this position, the smallercylindrical cross section on the end of the pin bridges and spans theapertures 35 and 36 and the eye 39 providing a pivot axis about whichthe clamp may swing. In the full line position of Fig. 9, on the otherhand, the tapered section of the keeper 41 spans and mates with theseeyes to wedge the body and clamping members against movement relative toone another.

Turning now to the keeper 43, the pin guard 44 will pass the aperture 38and the eye 40 allowing this keeper to be withdrawn or retracted untilthe pin itself lies intermediate the ears 30 and 33. This greaterwithdrawal movement is accommodated by the size and/or configuration ofthe aperture 38 and the eye 4!? whereby the pin will pass through theseopenings yet will be stopped by abutment against the ear 30. In thefully retracted position, of course, the clamping member 27 is free ofrestraint by the keeper 4-3 and it then can be pivoted to the releaseposition if, at the same time, the keeper 41 also defines a releaseposition.

Both the cross fitting X of Figs. 7-9 and the parallel fitting P ofFigs. 2-6 are constructed for heavy duty under conditions of greatstress and strain selectively to grip or to release two sections ofheavy wire rope. To this end, the clamping members and the body membersare preferably of a cast metal construction providing sufficientstructural strength to resist the strong forces generated when the jawsgrip wire ropes used in the assembly of a log raft. In the drawings, twospecies of socalled loop mechanism have been disclosed. Thus, theparallel fitting P has been illustrated with a hook 18 which defines theloop or catch on the end of the clamping member 16 whereas the crossfitting X has been illustrated with a closed eye 40 which defines thecorresponding element for the clamping member 27. As will be apparent tothose skilled in this art, these two elements are interchangeable, areidentical in function and use, and therefore both are intended to becovered by the generic term loop means. Whether a hook or an eye isutilized in a particular construction will depend upon the preference ofthe manufacturer of the fitting and the logger employing the fittings inthe field. An explanation of the use to which the fittingsconventionally are put will make this point clear.

Bundle raft A bundle raft which employs no boom sticks is illustrated inFig. l. conventionally, this raft is assembled in or adjacent a bay,inlet, or other salt water booming grounds. Initially, a plurality ofindividual logs L are gathered together to form a bundle B. In certaininstances, the bundles may be assembled at the logging site or aboard alogging truck and in certain other instances the bundles may beassembled right at the booming ground. The individual logs L arearranged in an abutting, parallel and side by side arrangement and aresecured either with encircling wire ropes 45 or with the swifters perse. In either event, the encircling wire ropes are cinched tight andheld by a quick detachable fitting 46. This particular fitting 46 may beof the parallei type P or may be of any standard choker hookconstruction, exemplary chokers being disclosed in both of my previousUnited States Patents 2,605,130 and 2,675,262. It is the function of thefitting or choker hook 46 detachably but positive to hold the logs Ltogether while the bundle B is in transit.

Having assembled a number of bundles B at the booming ground, thelateral rows of the raft first are made up. To this end, the wire rope24 is a multiple or a single piece lateral swifter which interconnectsthe bundles in each row and is secured in place by means of the parallelfitting P of Figs. 2-6. Where a single long swifter is utilized, itfirst is Wrapped centrally about a single bundle B and secured with asingle parallel fitting P. Thereinafter, the long free end of theswifter is wrapped centrally about the next adjacent bundle B and oncemore secured with a fitting P. In a large raft, a single row may containas many as eight or ten bundles B and each is secured in this manner.Where plural short sections of swifter are used, the individual sectionsalso are secured together with parallel fittings P.

It will be appreciated that while the logger or workman is assembling arow of logs, he either must work on a sloping cradle, on the tide fiator from a boat or while standing upon the floating bundles B.Optionally, the bundles may be assembled between the low and high tidemarks with log handling equipment manipulating the individual bundles toallow the wire ropes 24 to be wrapped centrally about the bundles. atypical securing operation with a fitting P proceeds with both of thekeepers 19 and 20 retracted so as to permit the clamping member 16 toswing open as shown by the direction arrows of Fig. 2. In the openposition, the clamp is fitted under the parallel sections of wire ropeand the individual sections of the rope arranged to lie within theparallel jaws 23. The clamping member 16 then is pivoted to the grip orclosed position and the keepers 19 and 20 are moved laterally throughthe corresponding apertures loosely to secure the fitting againstdisplacement. As the ropes are drawn tight, a final grip is eifected byapplying a hammer blow to the large end of each keeper. This drives thepins firmly into place with a wedge like action. In this connection, it

will be noticed that the tapered construction of each:

In either event,

keeper conforms to the sloping outline of each group of mated aperturesand loops so as to effect a latch movement which is tight and secure.With both keepers driven in place, the two sections of wire rope cannotmove relative to one another. Thus, displacement or loss of the fittingwill not take place even during adverse weather under severe conditionsof stress and strain.

Having assembled a plurality of individual rows of the bundles B,longitudinal tow lines which also are wire ropes 25 then are fitted instaggered fashion the length of the individual rows. The exact number oftow lines which will be utilized in each raft, of course, will dependupon the preference of the operator. However, I have determined thatwith eight bundles to a row, three tow lines are sufficient, each towline actually being a double where the insurance carrier so requires. InFig. l, a portion of such a raft with eight bundles to the row is shown.As therein illustrated, the tow line 25 has been staggered laterallywhere it is secured to the encircling swifters 24 closely adjacent thewater line in order to develop a straight pull and in order to allow aworkman to assemble the fittings about the crossed wire ropes with easeand speed. In many rafts, the bundles B of Fig. 1 actually are arrangedso close to one another that they are in abutment. However, the exactspacing is a variant which depends upon several factors and I have shownmy preferred embodiment.

During assembly of the cross fittings, the keepers 41 and 42 areretracted or withdrawn and the clamping member 27 is pivoted open inmuch the same manner as described and illustrated for the parallelfitting. Thereinafter, the gripping jaws 34 are fitted about the crossedwire ropes 24 and 25 and the clamping member 27 pivoted to a closedposition catching the ropes between the jaws. The two keepers then aremoved laterally through the eyes and apertures to effect a loose hold ofthe fitting in the closed or grip position. Finally, the ropes are givena final adjustment and a hammer blow is struck upon the large end ofeach keeper 41 and 43 firmly to latch or lock the fitting in the gripposition. In effecting this terminal latch or look movement, it will benoted that the tapered construction of each keeper conforms to thesloping or decreasing diameter of each aperture and eye carried by theears 28-33 inclusive. This arrangement again provides a tight, efiicientand wedge action lock of the body and clamping members 26 and 27sufficient to resist the strong forces which will be imposed when theraft encounters adverse weather in open water. In addition, it will benoted that the keepers are separate from the jaws so that any prying orpulling action developed by the ropes will not tend to release thekeepers. One other reason for the positive latch, of course, is that thekeepers are arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of theclamping member in swinging open.

In final arrangement, the log bundles B are spaced slightly or are insemiloose abutment both end to end in tandem in a longitudinal directionand side by side in rows in a lateral direction. Thereinafter, the towlines 25 are secured centrally to a tow point which conventionally is atug and the entire raft is moved from the booming ground to a mill. Asan added safety precaution. it sometimes is preferable to secure thesebundles which make up the tail end of the raft by wrapping the free endof the tow line around adjoining bundles and securing the same with afitting. In any event, the mill oftentimes is hundreds of miles distantfrom the booming ground and the raft thus may traverse considerable openwater where wave and wind action will impose a great deal of strain. Atypical raft may be eight or ten bundles wide, ten or twelve bundlesdeep in tandem, and made up with individal logs L which are twenty toforty feet in length. By employing the described parallel and crossedfittings, by arranging the swifters and tow lines as described, byutilizing wire rope of sufficient strength, and by arranging the logsand bundles as described, a raft is enabled to withstand weatherconditions encountered in the open ocean without loss of a bundle or anindividual log. In addition, the various fittings and wire ropes can beused over and over again since the massive heavy construction thereofresists corrosion, damage, and breakage.

At the mill site, the raft quickly and easily is disassembled. To thisend, a typical disassembly includes first a release of the crossfittings X and then a release of the parallel fittings P. A hammer blowis struck on the small end of each keeper 41 and 43 to release the bodyand clamping members. Since the worker disassembling the raft may bebalanced in a somewhat precarious position upon the floating bundles Bor in a small boat, it is preferable that the release of each fitting beaccomplished with speed. By employing the described construction, a fastrelease is possible since a hammer blow upon the keepers will move themlaterally the full distance permitted by the guards or pins 44. Afterwithdrawal of each keeper, of course, the clamping member 27 manually ispivoted open or, if there is a pry or lifting stress in the wire ropes,it will swing open automatically, releasing the wire ropes 24 and 25.After removal of the various cross clamps X, the parallel fittings P arereleased. To this end, a similar hammer blow upon the small end of eachof the keepers 19 and 20 will release the clamping member 16 for pivotalmovement open as shown in Fig. 2. Release of the individual logs L fromeach bundle B then will depend upon the type of fitting employed at 46.The details of this latter fitting, however, form no part of the instantinvention and will not be described. In any event, the entiredisassembly operation is much more simple and consumes much less timethan with ocean going rafts heretofore known.

In summary, I have provided a novel ocean-going log raft which is madeup of bundles secured with wire rope and novel quick detachablefittings. The simplicity and strength of this raft is as important asthe minimal cost and practicality thereof in allowing the small timberoperator to compete with his large rivals.

I claim:

1. An ocean going log raft comprising a plurality of multiple logbundles arranged end to end in tandem between a head and a tail end andside by side in lateral rows to define a bundle raft in which theindividual bundies float, said lateral rows having separate swiftermeans joining the individual log bundles in each row, and longitudinaltow line means connected to a selected bundle from each row and joiningthe rows fore and aft.

2. An ocean going log raft comprising a plurality of logs secured inindividual bundles with encircling wire rope means, said log bundlesbeing arranged to float end to end in tandem longitudinally between ahead and a tail end and side by side in lateral rows to define arectangular bundle raft, each of said lateral rows having lateralswifter means joining the individual log bundles in that row, each saidswifter means including wire rope means wrapped about each bundle andsecured with a parallel quick detachable fitting, and at least onelongitudinal tow line means joined to the swifter means of each row at alocation closely adjacent the water line of said raft and by means of across quick detachable fitting, the number of tow line means being fewerin number than the number of bundles in a row, said tow line means beingarranged intermediate the sides of said raft and extending from adjacentsaid tail end to a central tow point adjacent said head end, each ofsaid parallel quick detachable fittings being arranged above the waterline of said raft for easy access during assembly and disassembly of theraft.

3. In an ocean going log raft a plurality of individually secured logbundles arranged end to end between a head and a tail end and side byside in lateral rows to define a raft of substantially rectangularoutline which is one bundle deep throughout, each of said lateral rowshaving the same number of individual log bundles and each bundle beingof substantially the same width, each of said lateral rows havinglateral swifter means joining the individual log bundles in that row,and at least one longitudinal tow line means joined at spaced points tosaid swifters with a quick detachable fitting, the number of tow linemeans being fewer in number than the number of bundles in a row.

4. An ocean going log raft comprising a plurality of log bundles eachsecured fore and aft with separate encircling wire rope means fastenedby quick detachable fitting means, said log bundles being arranged endto end longitudinally in tandem between a head and a tail end and sideby side in lateral rows between a starboard and a port side to define abundle raft, each of said later-a1 rows having the same number ofindividual log bundles and each having a single lateral swifter meansencircling the individual log bundles and joining the bundles in thatrow, and at least one longitudinal tow line means joined to each of saidencircling swifters with a quick detachable fitting, the number of towline means being fewer than half the number of bundles in a row, saidtow line means being staggered laterally as it passes along the lengthof said raft.

5. In a long haul, ocean going log raft, a plurality of log bundles eachformed by securing plural individual logs together in an abuttingparallel side by side arrange ment, said log bundles being arranged endto end in 30 1,883,824

tandem in a longitudinal direction and side by side in rows in a lateraldirection, lateral swifter line means encircling and interconnecting theindividual bundles in each of said rows, and longitudinal tow line meansjoining said 'swifter lines where they encircle a bundle, said tow linebeing staggered laterally where secured to said swifters progressingfrom the tail end toward the head end of the raft.

6. A long haul, ocean going log raft comprising a plurality of logbundles each formed by securing plural individual logs together in anabutting parallel side by side arrangement with encircling wire ropemeans fastened by quick detachable choker hooks, said log bundles beingarranged end to end in tandem in a longitudinal direction and side byside in rows in a lateral direction, a single lateral swifte-r linemeans mapped centrally about the individual bundles in each of said rowsand secured in place by means of a quick detachable fitting,longitudinal tow line means joining each of said swifter lines by meansof quick detachable fitting means to a central tow point adjacent saidhead end, said tow line means being staggered laterally where secured tosaid swifters and being arranged closely adjacent first a more starboardand then a more port one of said bundles progressing from the tail endtoward the head end of the raft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSRoberson Oct. 18, 1932

